Juan Ayuso back in training following challenging spring but won't race again before June

Juan Ayuso has faced a difficult start to the 2024 season after a promising victory at the Volta ao Algarve. The young Spanish rider, now with Lidl-Trek following his move from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, suffered a series of setbacks including a crash while leading Paris-Nice and subsequent injuries that disrupted his campaign. Additional misfortune struck during training in Andorra and at the Itzulia Basque Country, where illness forced him to withdraw, ruling out his participation in the Ardennes Classics and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Despite these challenges, Ayuso has resumed training and is preparing to return to competition in June. According to reports from Spanish media outlet AS, the 23-year-old will target the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as his first race back, using it as a key stepping stone ahead of the Tour de France. This event, formerly known as the Critérium du Dauphiné, takes place from June 7 to 14, marking nearly two months away from racing for Ayuso. The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will see Ayuso competing against emerging talents such as Paul Seixas, Oscar Onley, and Isaac del Toro. However, some of the sport’s biggest names, including Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel, will be absent from the field, with Pogačar and Vingegaard focusing on other races and Evenepoel opting out of competition in June. This could provide Ayuso with a valuable opportunity to regain form and confidence in a high-profile race setting. Ayuso’s return is keenly anticipated by his team and fans, who hope he can build momentum towards the Tour de France after a spring marred by injury and illness. His cautious approach to racing this season underscores the importance of managing his recovery carefully to ensure he is in peak condition for the summer’s Grand Tour. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Ayuso can re-establish himself as a leading contender in the sport.